Showing Your Rental Property
When it comes to showing your rental property there are a few things to keep in mind. Take it from a company that has literally gone through the process hundreds of times. From before your potential renters arrive, to after they leave, there are certain steps you need to take to maximize your time management and quickly weed out the less desirable renters.
First off be prepared. When showing a rental property it is always a good idea to spend a few minutes to make sure your ducks are in a row. Make a checklist if you have to. Do I have the keys? Is the garbage taken out? Etc. Have your applications available and in abundance (some people will take more than one). Sometimes you are forced to show a rental with tenants still inside so be sure to give them plenty of notice to enter their home. This will give them time to tidy up (hopefully). Know your property inside and out so you are not searching for answers to curve ball questions that might come up. If you don’t know something about the rental property that you are showing, I guarantee that someone will ask.
Book appointments officially. Avoid on the fly showings as it will knock you off of your daily rhythm and give you less time to be prepared. If something is worth doing, it’s worth doing right! Having a scheduled showing will increase your chances of finding good tenants. The initial contact is the beginning of the interview process. If these potential renters are a nightmare to deal with before you officially meet them, chances are that they will only get worse as time goes on.
Being prepared extends to the presentation of the rental. Get inside well enough before your clients do to turn on lights, open blinds, flush the toilets etc. Act as if it is your own place. I make it a habit of showing up 15 minutes before my first scheduled booking to give myself time to take care of loose ends. This is crucial if the rental property being shown is currently occupied. You want your rental property to be as show worthy as possible to attract and impress great tenants.
Time to trim the fat. When dealing with potential renters you need to compare the process to a job interview. You are the owner of the company, and they are coming to you. If someone is late or doesn’t show up to a scheduled interview without notice, it isn’t likely that they will get the job. Don’t waste time on tracking down the people that stood you up. I do however recommend asking for people’s phone number to attach to their booking. This does two things for me. One, it lets me contact them if there is an issue on my end, and I need to reschedule. Two, it gives me a record beyond a simple first name. So if they have a habit of not showing up to a booked viewing, I can avoid wasting more time with them.
As always these tips and tricks only go so far and you will still be left dealing with nasty situations. Dealing with it efficiently takes years of experience. Luckily you know a property management company that can save you time. If you have a vacancy that you need rented, give Harbourview Property Management a call today.